Linfield manager David Healy has praised the impact of “exceptional” Adam Frizzell with the Scottish star playing a key role in their current Premiership winning run.

Frizzell joined the Blues from Derry City in January and has started all four league matches at the start of his first full season at Windsor Park.

Healy’s men have been able to quickly put the disappointment of a shock 3-0 opening day defeat to Ballymena United behind them, winning three on the spin since – including a 2-1 triumph over ‘Big Two’ rivals Glentoran.

Frizzell shone in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Limavady United, setting up Matthew Fitzpatrick’s strike before opening his own goal account for the season with a second after the break to secure maximum points on the road.

placeholder image — Linfield manager David Healy. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

The 28-year-old gained vast senior experience in Scotland during spells at Kilmarnock, Dumbarton and Airdrieonians, who he captained to glory in the Scottish Challenge Cup.

Linfield fans are starting to see the best of Frizzell and Healy views the former Scotland youth international as a creative threat.

“He has been exceptional since he came into the team,” said Healy. "I think I got booed the first game when I brought him off against Ballymena as he was probably one of our better players.

"He put in a lot of hard work, he played the European games and probably the game at the time had gone against Ballymena.

"When he finds himself on the inverted side, when he's basically cross/shooting from that side, he’s a real threat and, thankfully, Fitzy was in the right area to score (against Limavady).

"I think he's played nearly every minute since. He creates goals with his supply, his delivery and his ball.”

Linfield are back in Premiership action on Saturday afternoon when they host Carrick Rangers – the pair are level on points after four matches.

Stephen Baxter’s side have also won three of their opening four with a sole blemish coming against leaders Coleraine.

Healy made significant changes to his Blues team for Tuesday’s Senior Shield defeat to Glentoran and is hoping to welcome a number of players back into the fold this weekend.

However, Darragh Leahy is set to miss “longer than we’d hoped” with an injury which forced him off after 73 minutes in Limavady.

The 28-year-old has been an ever-present in Healy’s squad since joining from Waterford in January and his absence will undoubtedly be a blow.

"We’re back to Windsor after a good, professional away performance at Limavady last week,” Healy told the club’s media channel. “Carrick have started the season really well.

"They have experienced players throughout the spine of their team, throughout the whole team, so they’ll fancy their chances against us.

"We’re waiting on news for one or two, the Darragh news hasn’t been great, it’s going to be a little bit longer than we’d hoped, but we wish him well on that recovery.

"Kirk Millar missed last week, Kieran (Offord) missed last week, we’re hopeful they may be in and around being available but there’s no guarantee for this Saturday.”